Oral Hygiene and Lifestyle Correlates Among New Undergraduate University Students in Lebanon

Abstract

Little is known about Lebanese college students' oral hygiene and the factors associated with how often they brush their teeth. The authors used a structured questionnaire to investigate these issues in a sample of 954 new students at the American University of Beirut in fall 1998. The results indicated poor flossing habits and unfavorable dietary habits among the group. Moreover, using logistic regression analysis, they found that variables such as gender, father's education, exercise, and dietary habits, were significantly correlated with the how frequently the students brushed their teeth. Appropriate promotional activities to improve flossing and dietary habits associated with better oral hygiene are recommended. In addition, the authors call for further research to elaborate on the deficiencies in oral health practices and explore a wider variety of lifestyle behaviors and their correlation.